Coin-controlled mechanism for phonographs, &amp; c.



No. 659,66I. Patented Oct. 16, I900. G. W. GUMBER.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR PHUNOGBAPHS, 8143.

{Application mean. 18, 1899.) 1

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N0. 659,66l. Patented Oct. l6, IOOO. G. W. GOMBER.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS, 8m.

(Application filed Mar. 18, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

$60730 gagigif 2% c sumn rams GEORGE W'. GOMBER, OF CONYNGI-IAM, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AMERICAN MULTIPLEX TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, OF WEST VIRGINIA.

COlN=CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR PHONOGRAPHS, 80G.

SPECEFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 659,661, dated October 16, 1900.

Application filed March 18, 1899. Serial No. 709,611. kNo model.)

To (all whom it puny cancer-7o.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. GOMBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at- O0- nyngham, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention appertains to coin-controllec'l mechanism which, while primarily designed to be used in cooperation with phonographs or talki ngmachines, will be found equally efficient and desirable when used with any of the vending-machines as at present or otherwise constructed, the construction involved in the coin-controlled mechanism proper requiring no modification to render it ready for such varied uses, it being hereinafter made clearly apparent that the only change necessary to accommodate my coin-controlled apparatus for use upon other than a talkingmachine applies to an extension or arm designed to contact with a movable part of the mechanism with which it coacts.

The object of my invention, as will be hereinafter made fully apparent, is to produce a coiu-controlled device which will at all times reliably perform its office and which may be instantly adjusted so that it will be controlled by a coin of varying size.

The invention set forth in this application is designed as an improvement upon the coinconlrolled apparatus fully described and claimed by me in my application for Letters Patent of the United States, Serial No.655,267, liled October 15,1897, and it will be seen by comparison of the details of construction that the parts herein set forth have been greatly simplified and that many of the parts described in the above-mentioned application have been wholly eliminated, thus rendering the present device much more simple in its character and cheaper in construction.

Other advantages will be fully developed and made clear by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevation of my coin-controlled apparatus, showing the front portion thereof removed and also showing a portion of the back part of the casing of a phonograph and the buttons and tu mblers designed to control the talking'machine, which this form of coin-controlled mechanism is especially designed to actuate and control. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail of the main portion of the coincontrolled mechanism shown in Fig. 1 separated from its cooperating accessories. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the reverse side of Fig. 1, illustrating details of con truction which render the coin-controlled device as disposed in cooperative relationship with the stops or buttons and the levers controlled thereby as designed for use upon a talkingmachine. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of part of the mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3 separated from the other parts. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the lid or front portion of the casing, upon a reduced scale, designed to complete the coin-controlled device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 shows details of construction involved in my coin-directing member shown in dotted lines in operative position in the extended top of Fig. 1.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be observed that the principal element comprised in my coin-controlled mechanism consists of a pivoted memberof peculiar shape so mounted in position that it will be actuated by the weight of a coin and that said coin will be held for a certain time in plain view of the operator, and in order that all the details of my invention and their correlatives or accessories may be individually pointed out said parts will be designated by numerals,of which 1 shows a portion of the casing of a phonograph or talking-machine, 2 indicating the tumblers for controlling the rotation of the tablet-magazine, while 3 represents the actuating-buttons,each of which parts will be hereinafter more fully described.

Upon a convenient point of the casing 1, preferably upon the left end thereof, I secure thereto in any preferred way the member or body-section or chute at, which is provided with the partition wall or rib 5 and the side and end flanges or ribs 6, the latter being cut away fora portion of its extent, thereby forming the coin receptacle or mouth 7, while pivotally secured in position within the upper end of the opening or recess formed by said flanges is the coin-directing member 8, held in its operative position as by the pivot-point or lug 9. 6

It will be observed that the coin-directing member 8 is provided with a solid end 10 and upon its opposite end with the depending guiding-section l1, and as the weighted end 7 is heavier than the opposite end thereof the coin-directing member is held normally in a horizontal position owing to the location of the lug or post 12.

By reference to Fig. 6 it will be observed that the lighter end of the member 8 is hollow or provided with the vertical opening 13 of sufficient size to freely permit a coin to pass downward through the same, and in order to insure that the coin thus disposed shall so act that it will elevate the weighted end 10 and incidentally depress the lighter end I insure that said coin shall be brought in contact with said lighter end, which I accomplish by means of the guiding-finger 14:, held in position in the path of the coin by means of the set-screw 15, a stop-pin 16 being so mounted in position that the downward sweep of said finger Will be circumscribed. It is apparent that the guiding-finger 14 can be adjusted to any desired position by means of the set-screw 15. By this construction just described of the coin-directing member 8 it is clear that by a proper adjustment of the finger 14: the coin cannot drop freely downward through the opening 13, since the coin will contact with said finger and with the extreme end 17, and thereby cause the downward sweep of said end until. it has moved sufliciently far away from the end of said finger to permit it to pass between the end thereof and the end 17, when said coin will be directed into the throat 18, instead of passing directly downward into the throat 19 upon the other side of the rib 5, the extreme end or guiding-section 11 of the member 8 also tending to facilitate the delivery of the coin into the throat 18, said end 11 being at this position of the directing member obliquely disposed with respect to the throat 18, as shown by dotted lines. It will therefore be obvious that in case a smaller coin than that designed to actuate the device is used it will drop straight downward through the opening 13, and thence into the throat 19 and into the cash-box without in any wise disturbing the position of the member 8.

The back portion of the body-section or chute at is sufficiently recessed or cut away to provide that the actuating member 20 may be pivotally mounted between said body-section or chute and the casing 1, as by means of the bolt or screw 21. The actuating member 20, it will be seen, consists of the body portion 22, the right and left lateral extensions 23 and 2 1, respectively, and the depending arm 25, the latter having the graduated lips or guiding-fingers 26 and 27, the latter being designed to extend freely through the radially-disposed slots 28, provided in the body-section or chute 4:, near the lower end thereof, and inasmuch as said fingers 26 and 27 are upon opposite sides of a vertical plane they will occupy different positions, while operatively disposed with respect to the throats 18 and 19, as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out.

Designed to codperate with the actuating member 20 is the counterpoised trigger, consisting of the trigger proper, 29, thehook-section 30, and the weighted or counterpoising extension 31, the trigger thus formed being pivotally held in position upon the edge of the body-section or chute 4 by means of the screw or bolt 32, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The hook-section 30 is adapted to engage the pin or stop 33, secured to the lateral extension 24, near the outer end thereof, and thereby hold the actuating member in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, or in position ready to receive the next coin. Any suitable means for closing and breaking a circuit may be so disposed that the movement of the lateral extension 24 may be utilized to the best ad vantage, and for the purpose of this application I have shown an extension or finger 34 as secured to the lateral extension 24 and designed to contact with the similarly constructed finger 35, secured to the casing 1, said fingers constituting the ends of an electric circuit, as indicated by the wires 36,and when said fingers are brought together will insure that said circuit will be closed and the motor thereby placed in connection with its battery and the talking machine or other mechanism codperating with said parts started in the performance of its work. By thus disposing the trigger proper, 29, in the pat h of't-he coin as it falls down the throat 18 I insure that the weight of such coin will cause said trigger to move downward sufficiently to contact with the beveled face 37, and thus be disposed out of the way of the coin and permit it to continue upon its downward course until itcomes in contact with the finger 26, when the coin will be checked and held in plain view of the operator through the opening 38, formed in the front portion 39 of the coin chute or body 4, it being understood that said front portion may beheld in position, as by screws passing through the apertures 40, formed therein and also provided in the body-section 4 The parts as illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be seen, are disposed in position ready for the reception of a coin which maybe dropped into the opening 7 and will thence pass into contact with the member 8 and the finger 14,

swinging the front end of said member downward until it has assumed the position indicated by the dotted lines, which will cause the coin to be directed into the throat 18, the upper end of the rib 5 being tapered to facilitate this movementof the coin,which will TOD then strike the trigger 29 and release the hooklever or right-angled extension 51, to the free section 30 from its engagement with the post of stud 33, and thereby permit the weight 41 to assert itself and swing the entire member upon its pivot-post 21, and thereby bring the finger 26 into the path of the falling coin, thus checking further downward movement. of said coin until the weighted end 41 is again raised, as by the movement of the diaph ragincarriage or by the contact of an arm mounted on said carriage, as will be more readily understood by reference to my former application above specifically referred to.

The throat 19 is provided for the reception of a coin other than that designed to actuate the member 8, as a coin of smaller size will not contact with the guiding-finger 14, but will drop straight downward into the throat l9 and be thus kept out of contact with the triggersection 29, the result being that the parts of my coin-controlled apparatus will remain unaffected, though said coin will be passed into the cash-box via the throat 19.

The underside of the weighted section 41 is preferably provided with a curved face to insure that it maybe accurately lifted by the movement of the carriage as it travels back to the initial point. When the weight is completely elevated, the hook-section 30 will by reason of the weight 31 be brought into engagement with the post or stud 33, and thus hold the weight 41 in an elevated position until the next coin is placed in the opening '7, when the operation will be repeated, it being understood that the preferable construction of the front part of the casing 39, forming a cover for the body-section 4, shall be provided with an opening of sufficient extent to enable two or more coins to be disposed always in view through the opening 38.

The rib 6, adjacent to the trigger, is preferably cut away to permit the free play of the latter in the performance of its work, and in order to illustrate how easily my coin-controlled apparatus may be placed in cooperation with a talking-machine mechanism attention is called to Fig. 3, in which it will be seen that the series of buttons 3 extend entirely through the casing 1 and are pivotally secured to their respective levers, (designated by the numeral 42,) all of said levers being held normally outward at'their lower ends by means of the individual spring 45, provided for each of said levers.

Pivotallysecured to each of the lower ends of the levers 42 is an individual tumbler 46,

which extends loosely through an opening in the casing l and is designed to engage its re-' spective slot or opening provided in the head of the magazine, as set forth in my applica tion above referred to and to which I deem it unnecessary to further refer in this case.

The crank-shaft 47 is mounted, preferably, in a horizontal plane and is held in position by the brackets 48 and 49, one end of said shaft having the crank portion 50, while the opposite end thereof has the controllingend of which is pivotally secured the controlling-rod 52, the upper end of which extends loosely through the vertically-disposed slot 53, provided in the bracket 54, which latter is permanently attached to the inner side of the actuating member 20 by means of the rivets 55, as shown in Fig. 2, it being understood that an opening 56 is to be provided in the casing to permit the free upwardand-downward movement of said bracket 54 as it is moved by the operation of the weight 41. The lever-section 51 is held normally upward by means of the spring 57, the lower end of which engages said lever, while the upper end is secured in any preferred way, as by the bolt 58.

The position indicated by Fig. 3 corresponds to the position indicated by Fig. 1 that is to say, the parts are shown in said views as being disposed ready for the reception of a coin, which when placed in position will,

force the trigger 29 downward and permit the weight 41 to raise the lateral extension 24, which will elevate the bracket 54, and thereby permit the lever-section 51 to be drawn upward by the spring 57, thus disposing the crank-section 50, so that it will fly upward and secure the lower ends 59 of the levers 42, so as to hold the tumbler attached thereto in an extended position, so that it will come in contact with its respective slot formed in the head of the tablet-magazine, which will insure that said magazine will be stopped when the selected tablet has been brought under the diaphragm.

By providing the slot 53 instead of a simple aperture I am enabled to make it possible to push in any of the buttons without accomplishing any result whatever, inasn1 uchas the crank-section will be held out of contact with the ends 59 of the levers 42, thus making it possible to freely push in any or all of the buttons without accomplishing any other result, as said buttons will be again moved outward when released by the action of the spring 45.

To better illustrate the importance of the slot 53 and the different result obtained than would be the case if a simple aperture were provided in lieu thereof, it will be observed that when the machineisin its operative position and the weight 41 consequently depressed the curved faces of the ends 49 will simply ride over the crank-section 50 and push the same downward sulficiently to enable said end to pass said section, the slot 53 permitting this play or movement of said crank-section without in any wise disturbing the contact between the fingers 34 and 35, which would not be possible if a simple aperture were provided, as in that case any downward movement of the crank-section would so act upon the lever-section 51 that the bracket 54 would be drawn downward,. and thereby incidentally depress the lateral extension 24 sufficiently to bring said fingers out of contact with each other, and thus break the circuit and stop the motor and perhaps leave the phonograph in a half-operated condition.

The actuating member 20, it will be ob-- ing the various parts, yet I have not in any way sacrificed utility and effectiveness of operation, as said parts will be found amply sufficient to reliably perform the simple duties required of them.

While I have described the preferred construction to be followed in the production of the several parts of my coin-controlled apparatus, it will be understood that I desire to comprehend by this application the substantial equivalent thereof, and I do not, therefore, wish to be confined strictly to the exact showing herein set forth.-

Believing that the advantages and construction of my invention have been made fully apparent from the foregoing specification, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, I will now point out what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, viz:

1. In a coin-controlled mechanism, the combination with a conveying-chute, of a pivoted actuating member having a depending portion carrying right-angled extensions,said extensions being adapted to extend into said chute, and a trigger designed to hold said member until released by the falling coin, as specified and for the purpose set forth.

2. In coin-controlled mechanism, the combination of the body section, a pivotallymounted coin-directing member, adjusting means entirely separate from said member to limit its movement, and a trigger actuated by the falling coin, all arranged as set forth.

3. In coin-controlled mechanism, the com bination of the section provided with a chute, a vertical rib central of the chute, a pivoted actuating member having lateral extensions and a central depending end having means to receive and then release the coin, as set forth.

4. In acoin-controlled mechanism, the com- V bination with a chute or body-section having a her is restored to the position ready for the reception of the next coin, as specified and for the purpose set forth.

5. In coin-controlled mechanism, the coindirecting counterpoised member 8 having an integral depending extension 11 and vertical opening 13, in combination with an adjustable guiding-finger l4 entirely separate from said member, all arranged as set forth.

6. In a coin-controlled mechanism for phonographs, the herein-described double throat 18 and 19, a pivoted counterpoised member 8 and a guiding-finger 14. so disposed in the path of the falling coin that the latter will be directed into the throat 18; a pivoted member having a depending portion carrying outwardly-extending fingers 26 and 27; a counterpoised extension 451 having acurved outer face adapted to be contacted by an arm of the diaphragm-carriage, and a trigger provided' with a hook extension; a counterbalancing-section and a trigger extension proper, said hook being adapted to engage a pin carried by said pivoted member and thereby hold the weight of the end of said member in an elevated position until released by the falling coin, as specified and for the purpose set forth.

7. As an improvement in coin-controlled mechanism for phonographs, vending-machines or thelike, a coin-chute having a donble throat; a coin-directing pivoted member 8 and a guiding-finger 14: so mounted in said chute that the coin will be directed into the throat designed for its reception and a trigger mechanism so disposed in the path of the falling coin that it will be actuated thereby and incidentally release a pivoted member and thereby close an electric circuit controlling the motor of the phonograph, as specified and for the purpose set forth.

8. The herein-described coin controlled mechanism for talking-machines consisting of a coin-chute having a double throat in its lower end, a pivoted coin-directing member mounted in the upper end of said chute; a pivoted member 22 having the lateral extensions 23 and 24 and the depending portion 25; outwardly-extending fingers 26 and 27 carried by said depending portion and abracket 54 provided with a slot 53 and adapted to extend loosely through the wall of the support ingcasing; a series of buttons and levers therefor adapted to cooperate with the carry ing-magazine; a crank-shaft in cooperation with said levers at one end, while the opposite end thereof is provided with the leversection 51, a shaft pivotally connected to said ICC lever-section and loosely fitting in said slot bracket being formed with a slot 53 and a shaft, the upper end of which is adapted to loosely play in said slot whereby compensation is made for the movement of said shaft without disturbing the position of said bracket or the pivoted member to which it is secured, as specified and for the purpose set forth.

10. As an improvement in coin-controlled mechanism for phonographs or the like, a chute having a partition wall or rib 5 in its lower portion and a pivoted member 8 disposed in its upper portion; a guiding-finger 14 adapted to cooperate with said pivoted member whereby the coin will be checked until said member is moved downward by the weight of the coin, a pivoted actuating member having a depending portion carrying downwardly-extending members 26 and 2'7; slots formed in said chute through which said members may loosely extend, said members being so formed with respect to each other that they will rest upon either side of a vertical plane, whereby when the trigger is released by the falling coin the member 26 will move into position to hold said coin in plain view of the operator until the trigger has again been placed by the movement of the diaphragm-carriage in a set position ready CJI for the next succeeding coin, as specified and for the purpose set forth.

11. As an improvement in coin-controlled mechanism, the herein described pivoted member having the weighted end -11 and the extension 24 and further provided with a depending portion 25 having separated rightangled extensions 26 and 27, the former being above the latter, said parts being so disposed that they will alternately rest in the path of a falling coin and temporarily check and then release said coin in its downward movement, as specified and for the purpose set forth.

12. In coin-controlled apparatus, the combination of a pivoted actuating member having an arm provided with a slotted bracket, a crank-shaft 47, a controlling-rod working in said slot and connected to the crank-shaft and levers carrying buttons controlled by said shaft, all arranged as set forth.

13. In coin-controlled apparatus, a pivoted actuating member provided with a slotted bracket, levers having buttons and means connecting said bracket and buttons, all operatively combined as set forth.

14. In coin-controlling apparatus,a pivoted actuating member provided with a slotted bracket, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE w. GOMBER.

Witnesses:

I. M. HUNTER, GEO. W. RADLER. 

